GameDev.tv Halloween Jam 2026
The jam allows assets you have permission to use, including free or purchased assets, with attribution requirements. Always re-check the live rules before submission.
October 2026 · Halloween game-dev wave
Halloween Game Jam 3D Assets: Start Free, Keep the Scope Small
For horror prototypes, jam entries and spooky vertical slices, start with one coherent anchor asset and add only the props that support the core loop. Knit of Shadows offers a free gothic building on Fab plus a wider dark-fantasy catalog.
GameDev Insiders Spooky Jam
The published rules allow free publicly available assets and require proper credit for third-party assets. Use only content that matches the current rules.
Wizardly Weekend — AI/reuse-friendly
The published rules explicitly allow AI with disclosure and permit reusing assets from other projects. That makes it a clearer fit for developers who want to use disclosed AI-assisted or pre-existing assets.
Rule check first
Do not assume every Halloween jam accepts marketplace or AI-assisted assets.
Policies vary widely. Some 2026 horror jams ban pre-made asset packs, generative AI, or both. SCREAM JAM 2026, for example, explicitly bans generative AI content even though third-party assets may otherwise be permitted. Check the current rules before you use any third-party asset in a judged entry. This page is a production resource, not a statement of eligibility for any event.
Fast scope
A 4-step horror scene plan for short jams
- Anchor the scene with one location-defining piece: chapel, gatehouse, shrine, corridor or ritual room.
- Add one readable threat: skeleton, weapon silhouette, armor or environmental danger.
- Add one lighting/ritual family and only the clutter that supports navigation or interaction.
- Spend the saved hours on gameplay, audio, lighting and a stable build instead of modeling filler.
Test the visual language before buying.
The Fantasy Arcane Gothic Crystal Chapel is free on Fab. Import it, test scale/materials in your scene, then decide whether the wider catalog fits.
Free Chapel on Fab →Commission only the gap.
If the catalog covers most of the scene, a focused custom static prop can be cheaper than rebuilding the whole environment.
Custom prop from $29 →